Casket top and interior unit therefor



Dec. 29, 1964 A. KAESER CASKET TOP AND INTERIOR UNIT THEREFOR Filed June 13. 1960 INVENTOR flaw/0e Z flare III/I ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofiice 3,162,923 CASKET TOP AND INTEREQR UNRT THEREFGR Arthur L. Kaeser, Springfield, ()hio, assignor to The Springfield Metallic Casket Co., Inc Springfield, ()hio, a corporation of Ghio Filed June 13, 196i), Ser. No. 35,576 9 Claims. (Cl. 27-19} This invention relates to casket tops and more particularly to casket top interior units for use therewith. This application is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending application Serial No. 811,425 filed May 6, 1959, now abandoned.

In the merchandising of burial caskets it is the usual practice to offer the purchaser a selection of interior units for linings for insertion in the casket top. In the past, such interior units or linings have been constructed of delicately arranged, expensive fabrics mounted on a suitable frame and which, due to their nature, were easily soiled and were difl-lcultly manageable. The problems connected with the use of such linings are aptly demonstrated by the following quoted passages from U.S. Patent No. 2,044,967, issued to E. C. Bowler, Jr. on June 23,1936:

The usual practice is to tack the lining within the case. This not only requires the services of skilled workmen in order to attain the desired draped, shirred, or other artistic effect but is a slow and painstaking operation often requiring the driving of as many as two hundred tacks through the delicate lining fabric. These tacks must afterwards be withdrawn if a dilferent lining issubstituted as often happens, due to the desire of the prospective purchaser, to see how a particular lining will look when actually applied to the case which may have been selected.

The problem of a readily attachable and detachable lining means for burial cases is further complicated by the wide variety of styles and shapes of cases now considered standard in the trade. These range from relatively simple to relatively complicated structures often involving half couch and full couch effects and multisided ends and head and foot portions.

As a result of these and other factors, there has long existed a demand for a lining means which would permit ready attachment and detachment of a selected interior.

While the above quoted discussion relates to a situation existing prior to 1936, the passage of time has not significantly diminished or changed the problems involved in the provision of interchangeable interior units for casket tops. the problem have been postulated. Thus, in the Bowler patent mentioned above, the suggested solution comprised the provision of an interior unit frame having the interior lining draped over it and being attachable to the casket top by means of male studs secured to the frame and insertable in female fasteners provided along the periphery of the casket top.

A more recent attempt to solve the problem is described in U.S. Patent No. 2,718,687 to I. A. Woltering et al. issued September 27, 1955, in which an interior unit was inserted into and retained in a casket top shell by means of flexible stay-like elements which snapped the interior into place and additionally by means of rigid rods bounding the interior which were insertable in a series of female fasteners situated peripherally along the casket top shell.

While the foregoing and other prior art attempts have done much to eliminate the problems involved, none have provided the art with a really simply constructed, inexpensive and easily attachable and replaceable interior unit for use in connection with casket tops.

Through the years,.various solutions to 3,152,923 Patented Dec. 29, 1964 It is accordingly a primary object of the instant invention to provide a novel construction for a casket top and an interior unit for use in conjunction therewith which is inexpensive, simple to fabricate, but yet which is artistically designed and which provides the effect desired of a casket interior. 1

Another object of the instant invention is to provide a novel casket top structure in which means are provided to permit ready and inexpensive installation of a large selection of interior units therein.

Still another object of the instant invention is to pro vide a novel casket top structure in which an interior unit may be used which is formed of an inexpensively manufactured flocked sheet of unitary construction that is readily insertable into andsecured around its periphery by slotted, resilient retaining means in said casket top shell.

A further object of the instant invention is to provide a novel casket structure either of the half or full-couch type having a two piece, domed casket top structure provided with inwardly directed flanges on the lower base section and longitudinally slotted or channelled retaining means which receives the edges of and supports a replaceable decorative interior unit for the casket top consisting of a flocked, shaped plastic sheet of unitary construction. As a further feature, a block of chemical foam is provided in a cavity between the flexible, resilient plastic sheet and the domed top to add rigidity to the replaceable interior unit.

These and other objects will become more fully apparent from the following discussion and appended claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation showing a casket of the half-couch type, the casket top or lid being in open position to show the manner in which the interior is inserted into the casket top shell;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the casket top taken along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 of a modification of the present invention; and

FIGURES 4 and 5 are a detailed View of a cross section and force diagram respectively of the retaining strip shown in FIGURE 3.

- As shown in FIGURE 1, the casket comprises a main body portion 10, a rim or rail 12 and a cover or lid which is divided into two parts, a foot portion 14, which may be fixed in closed position as shown, and a head portion 16, which is hingedly mounted on rail 12 along its edge 18- The structure which has been described to this point and its accompanying details are well known in the art as comprising a half-couch casket. Except for details of the head portion 16, which will presently be described, further detailed discussion of the casket is therefore unnecessary.

As shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the novel interior unit 25) of the present invention is of generally rectangular shape and fits within head portion 16. Head portion 16 consists of a dome or cap'22 having an inwardly directed flange 23 which is welded or otherwise secured to inwardly directed upper flanges 25 on a lower top section 24. Lower section 24 is provided at its base with lower peripheral inwardly directed flanges 26. A suitable hinge 27 is provided along the rear edge at flange 26.

Retaining strip 30, which is a resilient material and may be formed of extruded polyethylene or like material, is provided with a first longitudinal channel 28 which fits over the ends of flanges 26 on the lower top section 24. A second longitudinal channel 32 in retaining strip 33 and on the side opposite channel 28 is provided for receiving the peripheral edges of the replaceable interior unit 29, the construction of which is described below.

Interior unit 29 is {oi-tried of a sheet of moldable material such as plastic which is somewhat flexible and resilient and may be provided with roll sections 34 (four roll sections if the interior unit is of rectangular configura tion) which extend from the peripheral edge fitting in channel 32 up to a central panel section 36. Central panel section 36, in its preferred form, is substantially flat and provides a void or cavity 38 between the upper side of panel section 36 and underside of dome or cap 22 of the outer casket lid. Roll sections 34 meet with the central panel section at substantially right angles to provide rigidity to the central panel section. At the same time roll sections 34 are quite flexible and resilient so that the edges thereof m-ay be easily inserted into channel 32 ofretaim'ng strip 30. r i

' A block 40 or a chemical foam aterial, which may be of foam styrene or other suitable material, is inserted in void 38 to add rigidity and solidity to central panel 36 and prevent vibrationor other undesirable movement of interior unit 20 Within head portion 16. Where the void or cavity 38 between panel section 36 and cap 22 is large, as is the case where cap 22 is of dome-shaped configuration and panel section 36 isplanar, the use of filler material makes'po'ssible the use of a much thinner material for the interior unit than would otherwise be suitable.

If desired, foam material 40 may be adhesively bonded to either cap 2201 to panel section 36 to afford added rigidity and support tofthe casket construction without I interfering with the removal and replacement of differently decorated interior panels 20.

In itspreferred -form interior unit 20 consists of a preformed, unitary, flocked or cloth cover sheet, which has its center panel 36 molded with ridges and depressions to impart a desired artistic design (not shown) for decorativepurposes in the casket top. The material of which it is constructed is preferablynon-corrosive and may advantageously be a plastic or fiberglass, for. example, .or other materials which, when in the form of thin sheets, may 'be flexed and exhibit the property of returning to their original shape:

. The decorative pattern and roll sections '34 of interior unit 20 may be formed by a vacuum forming process, which comprises the steps of providing a'suitable mold, pre hea'ting' a sheet of plastic material of uniform thickness which issufliciently largeto cover'the mold opening, covering the mold opening with the sheet andiclamping it tightly in position, then drawing ,a vacuum between the plastic sheet and the inner moldopening 'andallowing the heated pl'astic'to be drawn tightly into the mold Where'it is allowed no cool and to attain its desired shape.

Interior unit 20 may be flocked by well known methods, a particularly suitable flocking method comprising applying the'flocked material 42 to the desired portions of central panel 36 after it has been formed, using masks to block off selected portions thereof topermit the applioation of plural colors to theinterior design. Roll sections 34 may beformed of one color or type of sheet with central sections of different colors.

.The novelinterior units of the instant invention are installed as follows: Retaining strip is secured to flange 26 by inserting said flange in longitudinal channel 28., After adhesively bonding chemical foam material 40 to the top surface of panel section 36 (additional adhesive material may, if desired, be applied to the other side. of the chemical foam after final customer approval), interior unit 20 is inserted into head portion 16. The peripheral edges of roll sections 34, which are generally coplanar, are flexible and resilient to facilitate the insertion of interior unit 20 into the second longitudinal channel 32 in retaining strip 30. The latter step may be accomplished at the funeral home by the undertaker without the assistance of skilled workmen by merely flexing the material of which interior unit 21 is formed sufliciently to insert its edges and channel 32. of retaining strip 30, The c sket is then ready for use.

' terior unit 66 in place.

As is readily apparent from the foregoing, the novel casket top structure of the instant invention is simple, inexpensive and eliminates many of the problems with which the art has heretofore been confronted. The heretofore separate frame and lining used to form casket top interiors are, in accordance with this invention, formed into a unitary structure which composes the entire trim for the casket and is of extreme simplicity to manufacture. The interior may be installed in the casket top with exceptional speed and eliminate the need for skilled help which is presently required for the installa tion of conventionaltypes ,of interiors. The molded interior permits extreme flexibility of design, which is limited only by the skill and ingenuity of the designer and mold maker. The ease or interchangeability of the interiors is a paramount feature of the invention and affords the purchaser a wide selection of interiors with minimum difficulty and expense.

In addition, the lowcost at which the flocked, molded, unitary interior units may be fabricated makes it possible for a largevariety and number of such interior units to be stocked at minimum expense to the undertaker. Where the customer desires an interior design other than the interior unit 2h which has been installed at the factory, the original interior may be readily removed and replaced by the undertaker without disturbing the decorative appearance of the casket.

Various modifications may, of course, be made without departing from the spirit of the instant invention. For example, it is not essential that interior unit 20 be of rectangular configuration, but may, if desired, have an irregular shape. Retaining strip 30 may be made of one continuous piece of material which may be'suitabl'y bent to fit a round cornered casket or may be notched to fit the corners of square caskets. if desired, of course the strip need not bea single, continuous unit but may consist of separate units for each side of the head portion.

In thetorm of the present invention shown in FIG- 7 URE 3, the casket top 50 has a ClOl'IljOll' cap 52 and a lower top section 54. Section '54 has an upper inturned flange 56 having a downturned lip 58, and a lower inturned flange 641 having an upwardly directed lip 62.

A resilient retaining strip 64' is provided to hold in- Strip 64 has a longitudinal channel 68 for receiving a lower edge of unit 66 and an angularly shaped channel 70 on the side of strip 64 opposite channel '68 for receiving lip .62 and the innermost portion of flange 60 fiO WhiCh lip 62 is con nected. As shown in the drawings lip '62 is turned substantially from flange 60, therefore channel 70 is made with an L-shaped slot to conform with the relationship of flange 60 and lip 62;

As shown in detailin FIGURE 4, channel 68, directed inwardly of said strip at approximately the middle thereof, has a slight downward slope. Channel 70 on the other side of strip 64 is located in the lower portion of the strip and is directed inwardly of strip 64' in a plane which will be parallel to the plane of flange 60 when the strip is mounted thereon. Channel 70 terminates in an upwardly directed channel portion 71 which is for receiving lip 62 on flange 60 of lower top portion 54 as above stated. I

When retaining strip 64 ismounted on thefcasket top, flange 60 is inserted in channel 70 and slid along the length of the casket top. Then the lower edge of the resilient and flexible casket interior unit 66 is inserted in channel 68 of strip 64.

Channels 68 and 70 are disposed so as to direct the outward expansion force of resilient interior unit 66 towards the approximate middle of'lip 62. .Thiseffects application, for all practical purposes, of a substantially uniform force distribution against theinner'face 63 of lip 62, as illustrated in FIGURE 5, the resultant of which is directed substantially perpendicularly towards the middle of inner face 63. Therefore, it will be ap-' parent that the expansion force of unit 66 is prevented from twisting strip 64 around lip 62. Should this be permitted, the thinner portions of the resilient member would tend to tear, particularly at the upper end of channel portion 71. Thus, by arranging channels 68 and 70 as described above, the size of strip 64 may be kept to a minimum since it is not required to offer internal resistance to forces tending to twist it around lip 62, and strip 64 may therefore be formed to have the appearance of an ornamental or decorative strip between the casket top and the interior unit while at the same time serving the function of a retaining means for an interior unit of a casket. Further, since retaining strip 64 accommodates both flange 66 and lip 64 in the man ner described above, it will be apparent that the interior unit 66 is held securely in place with little or no chance of slipping out of the casket top, even by sudden jarring as when the top is inadvertently slammed shut.

As in the case of the retaining strip described in connection with FIGURES 1 and 2, strip 64 may be colored to blend with unit 66 if desired.

The invention may be embodied in still other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A decorative, readily disassemblable casket top unit comprising a top exterior portion, having a base terminating in inwardly directed flanged edges substantially forming a rectangular opening, resilient connector means having two substantially oppositely disposed longitudinally extending channels, one of said channels engaging said inwardly directed flanged edges and being of such size and shape as to provide a comparatively semipermanent union therebetween, and a molded decorative interior member having outwardly directed flanged edges, said interior member being positioned within said rectangular opening with said outwardly directed flanged edges engaged in said other channel of said connector means and being of such size and shape as to provide a nonsemi-permanent union therebetween which has comparatively less resistance to separation than said semipermanent union, said casket top and said interior member forming a hollow chamber therebetween whereby said interior may be readily removed from said connector means and from said rectangular opening and whereby a second interior member substantially similar ot said removed interior member may be readily placed in said other channel of said connector means within said rectangular opening.

2. In the casket top of claim 1, said interior unit comprising a resilient, decorative sheet of molded unitary construction having a central portion and roll sections around the periphery of the central portion.

3. The casket top as defined in claim 1 wherein said interior member is formed with roll edge sections and a planar central panel section.

4. A casket top having: a peripheral base containing substantially rigid inwardly directed flanged edges with hinge means for connection to a main body portion; a central shell extending upwardly from the outer side of said base; an interior unit comprising a removable dec- 6 orative interior panel unit, said base and said interior unit forming a substantially hollow region therebetween, said removable decorative interior panel unit consisting of a decorative sheet of unitary construction, said sheet being formed of a flexible resilient material and having peripheral edges; and retaining means forming a joint between said casket top and said interior unit, said retaining means including a first gripping channel engaging and supporting said flanged edges, and a second gripping channel engaging and supporting said peripheral edges, one of said channels being of such size and shape as to provide a semi-permanent union with its associated edges and the other said channel being of such size and shape as to provide a nonsemi-permanent union with its associated edges, whereby said interior unit may be readily manually disassembled from said casket top.

5. The casket top of claim 4 wherein said inwardly directed flanged edges terminate in transvense lip portions, and wherein one of said channels in said strip is angularly shaped in cross-section to fit over and tightly engage both sides of said lip and both sides of a portion of said flange.

6. The casket top of claim 4 wherein said interior unit has a central portion and roll sections around the periphery of the central portion, said central portion being covered with decorative material, there being a body of chemical foam positioned in said region between and abutting the casket top shell and interior unit.

7. In a casket top unit including a top exterior having inwardly directed flanges including a body portion and a portion angularly disposed with respect to said body portion when said inwardly directed flanges are viewed in cross-section, an interior unit having outwardly directed flanges, and a connector strip supporting and secured to said flanges, the improvement comprising said connector strip being of resilient yieldable material and having oppositely disposed longitudinal channels, one said channel having a first segment matching and 're ceiving said body portion and an angularly related segment matching and receiving said angularly disposed portion of said inwardly directed flanges to form a semipermanent union therebetween, and the other said channel matching and receiving said outwardly directed flanges as as to allow said interior unit to be removed without inadvertently disconnecting said connector strip from said top exterior.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said connector strip has body means of such size and shape to force said inwardly directed flanges and said angularly shaped channel to be in substantially surface-to-surface contact throughout their coextensive lengths.

9. A connector strip as defined in claim 7 wherein said other channel is slightly sloped with respect to the portion of said one channel engaging the inwardly directed flange adjacent said lip of said casket exterior unit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,051,757 Travis Aug. 18, 1936 2,256,013 Brouse Sept. 16, 1941 2,637,137 Flynn May 5, 1953 2,700,197 Kesling Jan. 25, 1955 2,718,687 Woltering et a1. Sept. 27, 1955 2,867,030 Hillenbrand Jan. 6, 1959 2,929,128 White Mar. 22, 1960 3,002,783 Hofmeister Oct. 3, 1961 

4. A CASKET TOP HAVING: A PERIPHERAL BASE CONTAINING SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID INWARDLY DIRECTED FLANGED EDGES WITH HINGE MEANS FOR CONNECTION TO A MAIN BODY PORTION; A CENTRAL SHELL EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM THE OUTER SIDE OF SAID BASE; AN INTERIOR UNIT COMPRISING A REMOVABLE DECORATIVE INTERIOR PANEL UNIT, SAID BASE AND SAID INTERIOR UNIT FORMING A SUBSTANTIALLY HOLLOW REGION THEREBETWEEN, SAID REMOVABLE DECORATIVE INTERIOR PANEL UNIT CONSISTING OF A DECORATIVE SHEET OF UNITARY CONSTRUCTION, SAID SHEET BEING FORMED OF A FLEXIBLE RESILIENT MATERIAL AND HAVING PERIPHERAL EDGES; AND RETAINING MEANS FORMING A JOINT BETWEEN SAID CASKET TOP AND SAID INTERIOR UNIT, SAID RETAINING MEANS INCLUDING A FIRST GRIPPING CHANNEL ENGAGING AND SUPPORTING SAID FLANGED EDGES, AND A SECOND GRIPPING CHANNEL ENGAGING AND SUPPORTING SAID PERIPHERAL EDGES, ONE OF SAID CHANNELS BEING OF SUCH SIZE AND SHAPE AS TO PROVIDE A SEMI-PERMANENT UNION WITH ITS ASSOCIATED EDGES AND THE OTHER SAID CHANNEL BEING OF SUCH SIZE AND SHAPE AS TO PROVIDE A NONSEMI-PERMANENT UNION WITH ITS ASSOCIATED EDGES, WHEREBY SAID INTERIOR UNIT MAY BE READILY MANUALLY DISASSEMBLED FROM SAID CASKET TOP. 